It’s not uncommon to hear new and strange noises coming from standard guitar rigs these days, as guitarists are constantly redefining their sound by experimenting with anything they can get their hands on. One innovation, however, stands out from the rest thanks to its consistent sound, user-friendly design, and wide range of options. The EBow (short for Electronic Bow or Energy Bow) first appeared on the scene in the late 1960s and early 1970s, providing guitarists with a variety of sounds that would otherwise be impossible to achieve with an electric guitar.
The EBow is a portable device that uses an electromagnetic field – dubbed Direct String Synthesis by the company – to vibrate guitar strings instead of the traditional method of plucking the strings to produce sound. The sound that follows is similar to a bow striding across a string, but with a more electronic feel. The EBow gives the guitarist infinite sustain as well as a variety of sounds that sound like violins, flutes, horns, and other instruments. The battery-powered EBow now has a second mode that produces a harmonic of the note being played, giving it even more versatility.
The EBow can also be used to make a reverse-tape sound, and it can be used to make unique-sounding arpeggios by running it across the strings for more advanced players. The magnetic field creates controlled feedback, which gives the EBow a bit of an edge: it’s not uncommon for an EBow to produce different sounds depending on who’s playing it. This increases the EBow’s versatility by allowing for custom playing sounds.
In 1969, Greg Heet designed the first unit, and in 1974, he designed the first hand-held unit. The EBow has appeared on numerous albums since the 1970s and has become a highly sought-after piece of gear for many guitarists. Although the EBow can be used with acoustic guitars, it is a more difficult process. Because electric guitar pickups are more responsive than acoustic guitar pickups, the sound becomes richer and louder when played on an electric guitar. The volume of the EBow can be adjusted by playing closer to the pickup for a louder sound and farther away for a softer sound by playing closer to the pickup. Lifting the EBow away from the strings can also change the volume.